Can I Get a Disease From Oral Sex?

BETH WINSHIP, Los Angeles Times

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, March 7, 1999

DEAR BETH: Is it possible for either partner to get a disease if a woman performs oral sex on a man? What about a man performing oral sex on a woman? What if both people are virgins? What if only one person is a virgin? Thanks.

A LITTLE CONFUSED

DEAR CONFUSED: Many people are confused. It is very important that everyone understands how sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are spread.

STDs are transmitted by any kind of sexual activity involving the passing of blood, semen or vaginal fluid -- from a person who is infected to another person. During oral sex, viruses or bacteria from semen or vaginal secretions could enter the body through tiny cuts or sores in the mouth. Herpes can be contracted through oral sex if either partner has an active sore on the mouth or genitals. So it doesn't matter if you are both virgins. If a female were to have an STD, her partner could become infected if he had unprotected oral sex with her while he had a tiny cut in his mouth.

People who have oral sex should use a barrier to prevent transmission of STDs. The Centers for Disease Control suggests using a large enough sheet of plastic wrap to cover the genitals completely to protect both partners.

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Our country is experiencing a true epidemic of STDs. There were 15.3 million new cases of STDs in 1996 -- a 25 percent increase since 1988. One in four Americans contract one or more STDs a year. Two thirds of these cases occur in young people ages 15 to 24. STD infections can have dangerous consequences such as sterility, cervical cancer or increasing your susceptibility to acquiring HIV if you are exposed to it.

Many STDs don't show symptoms for a very long time, so they are passed without people even knowing they have one. Young people have more sex partners than older people. Nearly 60 percent of young people who are sex ually experienced don't use a condom every time they have sex. And young people aren't well informed because our country has not supported an effective education campaign in schools. Our country's STD rates are the highest in the industrialized world. Adults too frequently lack adequate knowledge or are embarrassed to talk about it with their kids.

The good news: Very effective treatments for almost all common curable STDs exist. The CDC recommends that all sexually active adolescents get tested once a year for STDs even if they feel fine and have no symptoms.

DEAR BETH: Is having sex with a pregnant woman dangerous to the pregnancy? I've heard different answers to that question.

READY IN TEXAS

DEAR READY: No. If she has any complications she should ask the physician who is giving her prenatal care. If she hasn't seen a physician, she should.